Last night, as the sun dipped below the horizon, we entered into the biblical holiday of Shavuot—a sacred time marking the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. This morning, across Israel and around the world, Jewish communities are gathered in worship, study, and celebration. And for Christians, this is also a day of deep significance—Pentecost—when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the believers in Jerusalem, birthing the church.
We woke up today reminded that Shavuot is more than a historical observance. It’s a call to action. It’s a divine invitation to align ourselves, like Ruth of old, with the God and people of Israel.
In the Book of Ruth—traditionally read during Shavuot—we encounter a Moabite woman who refused to walk away from her mother-in-law Naomi, and instead declared:
“Where you go, I will go. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” – Ruth 1:16
That declaration still echoes today. Ruth’s courageous decision to stand with the people of Israel in a time of grief and uncertainty ultimately shaped the destiny of the Jewish people and the coming of the Messiah. Her example is one we desperately need right now.
Today, as Jewish families bring first fruits and read the Ten Commandments, and as Christians recall the rushing wind and tongues of fire that filled the early church, we are challenged anew:
- To stand boldly with Israel, not only in times of joy, but especially when it is difficult.
- To embrace hesed—that biblical kindness, faithfulness, and sacrificial love that characterized Ruth’s life.
- To recognize the harvest—not just of grain, but of souls, relationships, and nations touched by our faithfulness to God’s promises.
In Exodus 23, God commanded His people to appear before Him in Jerusalem for three pilgrimage feasts: Passover, Shavuot, and Tabernacles. This morning, as we reflect on Shavuot, we are spiritually standing in the footsteps of the multitudes who gathered in Jerusalem for generations—Jews and, in Acts 2, even Gentile God-fearers. The unity, reverence, and divine encounter of that moment remind us that we, too, are called to participate in God’s covenant purposes.
In a world that often challenges truth and rewrites history, let us be people like Ruth—anchored, loyal, and bold in our stand for Israel.
So on this Monday morning, as the rhythms of Shavuot continue in the land of Israel and Pentecost is remembered in churches around the globe, we affirm again:
We will go with the people of God.
We will stand with the nation of Israel.
We will sow seeds of faithfulness, and pray for a harvest of redemption.
Am Yisrael Chai – The people of Israel live.
Happy Shavuot. Happy Pentecost.